Last week's task was related to your favourite tactical settings. Most of us think we know what it takes to win each game and this topic has received a lot of feedback from the community and we can't wait to share it with you.

Attention: this is a long-read, so take your time and enjoy this quality stuff from our managers!

         
Evinelis. WL 4.4 - 2.000 credits.

Let's start with how I prepare for the match. First, I analyze the opponent's players and try to find out which players can cause the most problems for my team's defense, and against those players I try to put better defensive style players, or simply use a double defense (I evaluate by analyzing the chronologies of previous matches, statistics and simply the skills of the players). I also try to find in which positions my team can create an advantage and tactically try to exploit it. I really like to have players coming off the bench who can push the team offensively and I try to put them in positions where the opposition's backups look weaker defensively (due to defensive skills or height). I don't like using the "whenever possible" shooting setting because this often forces the player to shoot from a (very) bad situation. But there is an exception for players who have good accuracy skill but only appear on the court for a few minutes per game due to poor defense and/or lack of athleticism. However such players are only the third or fourth option from the bench (in the position), so that in case of fouls, such players will not play much time anyway.

Team tactics

The defensive focus usually depends on what impression I get from the aforementioned analysis of opposing players. I always try to pay attention to the statistics of the opposing team, and how often the opponent makes shots from a close distance, from a medium distance, and from three points. It also allows you to decide where to focus your defense more.

I often use normal as an offensive focus, because my team has quite good players who can attack both from close range and from three points. But I often pay attention in which opponent's players can have problems with my players, so I try to focus on the weak spots of the opponent's team

Tempo, I use fast because I have a big rotation and I don't have fatigue problems, and a fast tempo can help tire out the opposing players at the end of the game

Full court pressure is rare. But I try to pay attention to the skills of the opponent's players in the attack, which can influence this setting

Early attack - rarely, but I often set it to medium. This setting probably depends more on what minutes are allocated to my players and how much I want to bother the opponent's players.

Isolation - rarely, I just don't have players who can play isolation basketball, if it was possible the setting would be - never

Quick Attacks - Rare, I've noticed this season that my defenders rarely successfully finish off quick attacks, I think it's a lack of experience so I left it rare as defenders coming off the bench with more experience could exploit this option from time to time.

Fighting for offensive rebounds - very often depends on the opponents' front line players. If there are more defensive players, I try not to fight for balls in attack.

         
pinkglass WL 3.3 - 2.000 credits.

In the dynamic world of Basketpulse, my strategic approach to the game involves employing a balanced offensive strategy paired with a defensive emphasis on perimeter shooters. This combination aims to optimize performance and achieve success on the virtual basketball court.

On the offensive end, the choice of a normal tactic provides a versatile and well-rounded approach. This strategy allows for a diverse range of plays, adapting seamlessly to various game situations. The flexibility inherent in normal tactics ensures that my team can effectively exploit opportunities as they arise, whether it be through inside drives, mid-range shots, or three-pointers. This adaptability is crucial in keeping opponents guessing and responding effectively to their defensive strategies.

On the defensive side, prioritizing the defense against shooters is a strategic decision driven by a keen understanding of the modern basketball landscape. In contemporary basketball, three-point shooting has become a potent weapon, often influencing the outcome of games significantly. By focusing on defending against sharpshooters, I aim to limit the effectiveness of long-range scoring threats from the opposing team. This defensive approach is particularly effective in disrupting the rhythm of teams heavily reliant on outside shooting, forcing them into less favorable shot selections and potentially reducing their overall scoring efficiency.

Furthermore, an emphasis on defending shooters complements the normal offensive strategy. By limiting the effectiveness of the opponent's perimeter scoring, I create opportunities for my team to secure rebounds and transition into a fast-paced offensive game. This synergy between defensive and offensive strategies is designed to create a well-rounded and efficient team capable of dictating the flow of the game.

In conclusion, my choice of a normal offensive strategy and a defensive focus on perimeter shooters is a strategic blend aimed at versatility and adaptability. By adopting a balanced offensive approach and countering the prevalent three-point threat defensively, I strive to create a winning formula in the virtual basketball arena of Basketpulse. This strategic alignment enhances my team's ability to navigate the challenges of the game, fostering a competitive edge and increasing the likelihood of success on the court.

         
孤舟 WL 3.3 - 2.000 credits.

In the fast-paced world of basketball simulation gaming, crafting a winning strategy is essential for success. In my pursuit of victory in Basketpulse, I've strategically employed a dual approach, focusing on sharpshooting tactics for offense and prioritizing interior defense. Anchored by the prolific scoring guard Tylenis Kojis and the versatile Weigang Zhao in the paint, this tactical synergy has proven to be a formidable force on the virtual court.

The offensive strategy revolves around the sharpshooter tactics, with Tylenis Kojis leading the charge as the primary scoring guard. Kojis, renowned for his lethal accuracy from long range, becomes the linchpin of our offensive plays. Setting the team's offensive focus on sharpshooting maximizes Kojis' ability to navigate through defenses, creating opportunities for him to unleash his scoring prowess from beyond the arc. The sharpshooter tactic not only exploits Kojis' strengths but also serves as a strategic advantage, keeping opponents on their toes and forcing them to defend against long-range threats.

On the defensive end, the emphasis is placed on protecting the interior, with Weigang Zhao taking a central role. Known for his well-rounded skills on both ends of the court, Zhao's defensive prowess in the paint is complemented by his offensive contributions. By setting the defense to prioritize interior protection, we capitalize on Zhao's ability to block shots, secure rebounds, and disrupt the opposing team's inside scoring attempts. This defensive stance not only fortifies our team against formidable opponents but also creates a foundation for a balanced and effective overall gameplay.

The dynamic duo of Kojis and Zhao showcases the versatility of our strategy. Kojis, with his sharpshooting abilities, ensures a potent and unpredictable offense, while Zhao's presence in the paint solidifies our defense. This tactical alignment not only maximizes individual player strengths but also fosters a synergistic team dynamic that can adapt to various game scenarios.

In conclusion, the decision to implement sharpshooting tactics on offense and prioritize interior defense in Basketpulse is a calculated strategy that leverages the unique skills of Tylenis Kojis and Weigang Zhao. This dynamic approach has proven effective, creating a well-rounded and adaptable team that excels in both scoring and defensive resilience. As we continue to dominate the virtual court, the brilliance of this tactical synergy becomes increasingly evident, showcasing the strategic prowess behind every move in the game.

         
klinx WL 3.1 - 2.000 credits.

My favourite tactical settings… Hard question. I’m gonna give this example because it’s the weirdest one. I love to use “normal” in offense and in defence.

Why is easiest to answer. When you don’t know if you should use “low post” or “shooters”, in defence or offense as well, I used to prefer don’t choose. When the other team is really strong in both spots, I feel that normal defence is the best option to lock them, because they probably use normal offense setting too. As well as I use normal offense, it is because my team seems to have advantage on all position on the court. So, the opponent will probably have to choose between low post and shooters. And most of the time, they defend low post, because I have strong low posts players, and because this setting is the most useful to grab some extra rebounds, but then, my shooters are often open and they put it down.

Let’s talk about the pace, I usually have more players than my opponents, so I will play in fast to exhausted him, and taking advantage in the end of the game. It doesn’t matter if he got apparently stronger guys, the exhaust will win! With the recent full court press update, it is less worth to use often, has the amount of ball loses decreased. So, the only thing it will happened, is that your player will exhaust faster. Then I put only “normally” to get some good defence by the 8 second violation rule. Early offense is set in rarely, because I like ball movement, my players are good passers, and we want to find the perfect shot. Same for isolation, we are a team that love to pass the ball, they want to play for each other, so we don’t use isolations. But we never refuse to play a fast break, scoring easy twos is always the best option after a rebound. And as we’re talking about rebound, this is the #1 priority, fighting for all rebounds, in defence or in offense. Having second chance opportunities seriously damaging the other teams.

At the end of the game, we want to make fouls when we are leading by 3, because we don’t want to let them getting opportunities to tie the game. We prefer doing a free throw fight, because we are good free throw players. On the other side, if we are losing, we press aggressively for the steal, before fouling players. And for the reason that we fight hardly for offensive rebounds, we want to shoot before the clock ends, and try to get another chance if we miss.

I hope this could help new managers to set tactics regarding their own team strengths.

         
DanTitan WL 4.7 - 1.000 credits

This week's "Recommended" post is about our favorite tactics. As a disclaimer I must say that it's of course good to set a default tactic for your team, but it needs to be changed for every game. Also to know your team well: your strengths and weaknesses. Let's talk about this!

Point one is your strengths, and you need to ask yourself these questions: Who is the best player in each position, how tall are they, their experience and abilities. Once you identify this you can for your weakness which is point two, and this is exactly the opposite as before.

Let's put a simple example. Let's say that you have 2 Centers: - 22 years old, 219cm, 12 Tgh, 10 2C, 10 CS and 6 exp. - 28 years old, 213cm, 12 Tgh, 12 2C, 12 CS and 9 exp. Your main thought would be that the second player is better. But if the opponent has got a taller player than 213 you might prefer to put the first one to defend him and use the second one for the rotation. Again this is just a little example to see that these details can make you win against a better team.

Another thing to analyze would be the opponent's way of playing. Go and check their last 3 or 4 games. How did they attack, where did they concede more points, how many players did score points. Everything needs to be taken into consideration. Let's go for another example:

In my last game I spotted that the opponent always played outside and used his 3 pointer players to get the points, my main defence was to stop him, so I played the defensive option in team tactics: shooters. By that, your players will focus on them, and not so much on the inside

I hope that with these little tips you can make your team better, but it would take many lines to dissect each game. I would recommend looking for those details. And if you have any doubts, please check the help section or the discord!

         
dwyane3 - WL 2.2

Reading all this got me excited to share part of my tactical setting as well.

I prefer to set tactics for each game. Sometimes I try to mess with my opponents who do not check the chronology of the game and I set my default tactics in the opposite way of what I am going to use in the upcoming game where I set an individual game tactic. 

My team's offensive strength are bigs - they are all athletic and can score. There are very few teams in my group that can stop them, therefore I usually attack with my low post players with their settings to shoot as often as possible from close range. Can't be that hard to make a layup, right? :)

However, in the beginning of the season I have tried to use my players' height advantage while shooting three-pointers, I have 206cm SG and 212cm SF. However, height was not enough to score threes and I reversed back to low-post offense. My long range shooters work as a back-up plan when the opponent tries to shut down the inside.

I love good defense and this is something I have been fundamentally changing in my players' skills recently. I used to neglect DIQ but now I want all my players to have high CS and DIQ. Good DIQ, especially for the bench players, for me is super important - they may not be talented on offence, but I need them to work hard on defence and give me those steals and deflections while my scoring leaders are resting. Most of my team has a setting for tight personal defense, except for 3 players with low DIQ, so they do not get into foul trouble.

For the team settings I focus on the opponent, however, at WL2 most of the teams are not one-sided. I check the previous 3 WL games stats of that team and do some math: I count how many points the team could have scored hitting all their shots from close range, mid-range and three-pointer. Whichever is the most - I focus on that particular area. Usually that is three-point shooters. In case the opponent has shorter scorers, I often enjoy seeing their leaders go 1/12 from the long-range instead of their usual 40% accuracy.

I tend to play a slow-tempo game as my players are lacking in passing skill and I prefer to be patient on offence and look for a good situation.

Despite the fact that all my players are quick, most of them tend to lack in dribbling skill, therefore I prefer to not push too much for the fast breaks and rarely play isolation. 

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Thank you for the input this week, we have had some fantastic responses from the community!

For the next week, we would like you to write at least 300 words post about how you train the young players until the age of 18 - what skills come first, do you do improvement jumps and why? Let us know in the comments what topic would you like to see covered by our community members next.

Looking forward to it!